Aer Lingus, a subsidiary of International Airlines Group (IAG) (IAG), targets to start three transatlantic routes to Orlando, New York, and Boston in the United States from Manchester Airport, the United Kingdom.
Aer Lingus seeks to enter the UK – US transatlantic market and awaits the American authorities’ approval to commence ticket sales from January 8, 2021. Aer Lingus aims to begin transatlantic flights from its new UK base to Orlando (MCO), New York (JFK), and Boston (BOS) for the summer season of 2021.
The airline hopes to take the opportunity to fill the gaps in the market left by the collapse of a British global travel agency Thomas Cook in September 2019, as stated in an application to the U.S Department of transportation for a foreign carrier’s permit seen by the local media. To reach the goal, in December 2020, the airline has set up a new subsidiary Aer Lingus UK with the main hub in Manchester Ringway Airport (MAN).
On January 4, 2021, a spokesman of Aer Lingus told local media that the boost of seat capacity between Manchester and Orlando International Airport “would be most welcomed and beneficial to [Aer Lingus] community tourism recovery efforts”.
If American authorities approve the airline’s request, it will begin taking bookings for the transatlantic routes. The routes are expected to be operated by its two Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Two planes, the EI-EDY and the EI-ELA, will be re-registered as G- and will operate under the Air Operator Certificate (AoC) of Aer Lingus UK. In addition to A330s, the air carrier also plans to add two A321LRs, which will be also placed on the UK registry and should enter the Aer Lingus UK fleet in February and March 2021.
